A new study out of Italy found that overweight teens may be at a heightened risk to develop Alzheimer’s later in life.
According to researchers, obese teenagers were more likely to exhibit the two proteins Aβ42 and PSEN1, which are thought to be predictive of Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, the same risk likelihood was not exhibited in obese preschoolers.
“The clinical meaning of this observation is unclear, and longitudinal studies may be helpful to this regard,” said Rosa Luciano, MSc, and colleagues.
Luciano and colleagues said Alzheimer’s disease is categorized by dysfunctional insulin signaling in the brain. As you are likely aware, patients with diabetes have difficulty regulating their blood sugar levels, and their body either doesn’t produce or doesn’t respond well to insulin production. So when we look at the big picture, obese teens who show signs of pre-diabetes and insulin disruption may be at a heightened risk for Alzheimer’s development as they age.
Blood Study
For their research, Dr. Luciano and colleagues analyzed blood samples from preschoolers and teenagers. Researchers were looking for the expression of two proteins that have been found in excess in Alzheimer’s patients. After analzying the blood data and comparing it to BMI findings, researchers discovered:
- Obese teenagers have higher levels of PSEN1 and Aβ42 than overweight or normal weight teenagers.
- The two biomarkers correlated with insulin resistance, independent of body mass score.
- Preschoolers showed no association between BMI and either Aβ42 or PSEN1 exhibition.
Dr. Silverman comments
This is another study that shows how important it is to maintain a healthy weight throughout the our early years. Even though BMI didn’t seem to impact Alzheimer’s likelihood in preschoolers, other studies have found that overweight toddlers and preschoolers are more likely to be overweight or obese later in life.
Maintaining a healthy weight throughout your adolescent years comes down to two key aspects: exercise and nutrition. Parents can manage a child’s diet throughout their early years, but as kids get to middle school and high school, they begin to make more food or exercise choices on their own. This isn’t to say parents should force their children to eat certain foods or play certain sports, but it is important to stress how crucial a balanced diet and regular exercise is to overall health so teens will make good choices on their own.
Related source: Medscape